Muckraker Column – Zimbabwe Independent
DEFENCE minister Sydney Sekeramayi has called on defence attachés accredited to Zimbabwe not to engage in local politics but to concentrate on giving military advice.
“May I remind you that the world over the defence forces as the most powerful instrument of the state apparatus must be apolitical for they are meant to guarantee the peace and security of every citizen in the nation irrespective of religious, political or social affiliation,” he said in a speech read on his behalf at a reception for the defence attachés.
This is as it should be. Political neutrality and professionalism go hand in hand. That is why it is unforgivable when senior military commanders intervene in election campaigns to inform the voting public who is or is not acceptable to the armed forces as a candidate. That is why the military must not play any role in electoral supervision. That is why it is unhealthy for ex-military officers to be given party-political posts after their retirement. That is why serving officers should not engage in private business.
Most of the defence attachés present at the reception last Friday knew that already. They probably wondered if their absent host did!
The official media recently gave coverage to the presentation of a cheque for $30 million to President Mugabe by Hear the Word Ministries pastor Tom Deuschle. Readers of the Independent have expressed their indignation in our letters columns. They will be even more angered to hear what Deuschle had to say at the ceremony.
“Pastor Deuschle said the church supported the freedom of the people but that should be expressed within the confines of the law,” the Herald reported.
Does that include the law gazetted last weekend which says people can be detained for up to three weeks without a magistrate or judge being able to release them? Does that include the media law which empowers a government-appointed commission to impose severe penalties on journalists whose reports the state takes exception to? Does it include the law which prevents women from marching in the name of peace and justice?
Deuschle said there were powers that were trying to destroy Zimbabwe. His church would not judge the president by what the press, the West or the East said about him.
“We know that God has blessed you and it’s God’s gift to the nation because God establishes leaders,” Deuschle gushed. The recently reshuffled cabinet should give the country “clear guidance”.
Which is evidently something “Pastor” Deuschle is unable to do!
At least we had some straight talking from the president at the ceremony. He admitted to failures on the political side and in the agricultural sector. He spoke of the corruption and robberies that were prevalent as well as drunkenness and drug addiction.
“We have been tarnished but not everyone has been tarnished,” he said. “There have been those who resist evil.”
The president was last week photographed with Archbishop Pius Ncube who is demonised weekly by the official media for his principled stand against the brutality and evil stalking this land. Other church leaders were quoted last week as gullibly offering their support to the president’s anti-corruption drive. They didn’t ask what happened to those who fraudulently milked the War Victims Compensation Fund of millions of dollars a few years ago.
God is obviously offering Zimbabweans a choice as to who his real spokesmen are. Tom Deuschle has shown us who he serves!
Just as many of our readers were appalled by Deuschle’s fawning gesture, so others were by Island Hospice’s decision to invite Health minister David Parirenyatwa to open their new headquarters.
Bulawayo South MP David Coltart evidently shares the same view. He wrote recently to Island Hospice as follows:
“Dear Members of Island Hospice,”I am a great admirer of the wonderful work your organisation does and just recently received yet another glowing report from a dear friend whose wife was ministered to by your superb staff in her last days.It is accordingly with deep regret that I have to write to you to express my disappointment that you invited Zanu PF’s Minister of Health to the recent opening of your new headquarters.
“As you probably know I recently participated in the budget debate in parliament and was appalled by the stance taken by this man, and indeed all those who voted for the Ministry of Health’s budget. The Ministry of Health has onlybeen allocated $700 billion which is woefully inadequate. By way of comparison I should mention that the CIO was granted $62 billion, the Youth Brigades some $40 billion, the Army and Airforce $815 billion,the Police $339 billion and the “unallocated reserve” in the Ministry of Finance (which is not subject to the same scrutiny as other votes by parliament itself and is routinely used to supplement defence spending)$1,3 trillion.
“In other words we know that at the very least this regime will be spending $1,256 trillion defending itself (plus whatever else it takes from the unallocated reserve during the year) while poor Zimbabweans are being sent home to die from our hospitals because of inadequate medicines and lack of medical personnel.
“In these circumstances I find it distasteful that any medical organisation could associate itself with, never mind invite as guest of honour, a man who is complicit with and largely responsible for this appalling state of affairs. I hope that your wonderful organisation will never associate itself with such people again.”
If Island Hospice wants to maintain public support it should take note of Coltart’s letter. A response from them would be welcome.